“Cool.” He shuffled and stacked the printouts, books and magazines in his arms. “I contemplated writing a book on all this information I found about tiramisu.” Daniel sighed. “Alas, someone already beat me to the punch.”
He handed Serah one of the books. She looked down at the cover. A plate of fluffy tiramisu sat surrounded by swirls of chocolate sauce. Not to be outdone, a decorative chocolate pansy topped the dessert. To the side, a dollop of cream sat nestled between two plump strawberries. She glanced at the title—Tiramisu: Lifting up the Mystery, One Bite at a Time. She should have known there’d be a whole book dedicated to the elusive history of Italy’s most delicious dessert.
“Nice presentation, but a little too garish for my tastes.” She handed the book back to Daniel. “The only thing I’ve ever topped my tiramisu with is chocolate-covered espresso beans.”
“Dark or milk,” Daniel asked.
“Dark.”
“Oh God. That sounds so delicious. We have to do it for the show.”
“I don’t have any on hand right now, unfortunately.”
“I passed a candy store on the way to the library. I’m sure they’ll have some there.”
“The Sweetshop, right?”
Daniel nodded. “Interesting name. Their employees are all of legal working age, right?”
“Yeah, the people in this town have a strange sense of humor.”
She pulled the phone from her pocket. “Their candy is to die for. With the exception of the gummies, they make their own candy. I have an open account with the owner. I can have Edie go to pick some up.”
At the mention of Edie’s name, Daniel’s eyes lit up. “Sounds delicious.”
The candy or Edie? Maybe she was better off not knowing. She’d keep the conversation focused on the chocolate instead.
“Oh my God! Delicious is an understatement.” Serah closed her eyes, imagining the smooth and rich Dutch chocolate truffle she tasted yesterday melting in her mouth. Almost as smooth as Matthias’s tongue. Ugh! Not him again. Would he ever leave her thoughts?
“That good, huh?”
Serah snapped back to attention. “Yeah, pretty much.”
“If their candy is as good as you say, I don’t doubt you at all,” Daniel said with a grin.
“So you want the chocolate?”
“Of course,” Daniel said.
“I’ll have Edie get it right away.” She prepared to dial Edie’s number.
His expression grew serious. “About Edie. Can you give her the day off? It’s going to get crowded here with your crew.”
“That won’t be a problem. She’s catering an event for the hotel down the road tomorrow.”
Daniel breathed out a sigh of relief. “Cool.”
What was that all about? Did Edie make him uncomfortable? She was a bit different, but she was friendly too.
“Do you have a problem with Edie?”
“No,” Daniel said with a sheepish grin. “Her accent just creeps me out a little.”
“She’s lived all over Europe. I guess it’s kind of mixed.”
Daniel nodded, his expression growing thoughtful. A smile curved his lips. “Fascinating.”
Serah grabbed the book on tiramisu and thumbed through the pages. “Guess that book came in handy after all.”
Daniel tilted his chin. “They say inspiration is just as important as perspiration.”
“How true that is.” She headed back into the kitchen and grabbed the stainless steel bowl from the counter. “So are you ready to see my tiramisu in action?”
“Let’s do it.” Daniel said, waving his spatula in the air.
***
“So how’s the furniture search going?”
Matthias threw the catalog across the desk and snapped his head up. Lucy closed the door behind her and pulled up a seat.
“I could be of better use elsewhere.”
Lucy flung herself into the chair. “I’m not disagreeing with you. As you know, we have to take precautions when humans are involved.”
Matthias nodded. “I understand. I’m just not used to sitting idly while I could be out protecting her.”
“It’s just for a while, until we convince Daniel that we need to stay during the production.” Lucy smirked. “Trust me, we can be very convincing.”
“Are you going to enrapture him?”
Lucy shook her head and sighed. “Unfortunately that is one trait I never got.”
“Besides karate, what other skills do you have?”
“I can read and speak Old Latin perfectly. I’ve been able to since I was a kid.”
Wow. What an unusual talent. Then again, with that sort of talent she was indeed valuable. “That’s fascinating.”
“I used to think it was annoying. Not so much anymore.”
“It is a great skill to have.” He set his elbows on the desk and stretched. “I assume you had some questions for me?”
“Rafe told me you both were attacked last night?”
Matthias nodded. He knew there wasn’t any way to dodge the truth with Lucy Gregory. “Balthazar.”
“So you know him?”
“At one time I thought I did.”
Lucy arched a brow. “Who is he and what does he want with Serah?”
“He was a mercenary. He was my mentor. He taught me all I know.” Matthias pressed his fingers into the table. “There comes a point when even the strongest of the unsided demons snaps. He and I chose different paths.”
Lucy flashed him a warm gaze. “I hope you don’t mind me asking all these questions. I just want to know what we’re up against. Where did his path lead?”
“He was Belial’s second-in-command.”
The minute he spoke the name, Lucy’s gaze flared. Her face reddened. Her fingers bit into the arms of her chair. “I should have known.”
“Balthazar said he now serves another.” Matthias steepled his fingers. He could only dance around facts for so long.
“I suppose he didn’t do any name-dropping either, did he?”
“If only it were that easy.” Matthias ran through last night’s events. “We took refuge in the spiritual shop in the shopping center.”
“I bet Serah liked that.”
“Pardon?”
“She and I made New Year’s resolutions. Hers was to avoid compulsive shopping. She banned herself from consignment shops, thrift stores, and the spiritual shop.”
“It was the only place open and the only place Balthazar couldn’t enter.”
“I always used to think Serah was crazy when she talked about that store. Every time I drove by, it was closed. Then I opened the chest.”
“The proprietress explained that only those who were in tune with their spiritual side could enter.”
“That explains it. I guess my spiritual nature is sex.”
“I didn’t say that.”
Lucy smirked. “I’m joking. But Serah’s always been in touch with her spiritual side.” Her smirk transformed into a frown. “Then, after she was kidnapped, she told me the store had closed. That’s when I first knew something was wrong.”
Well, at least that part of his mission was falling into place. She was beginning to accept her true nature. They might have been small steps, but they were steps nonetheless.
“While we were there, the woman gave Serah a necklace. It matches her watch.”
“I thought that necklace looked familiar. And that crazy watch. I always knew something was up with it. Did her grandmother leave it for her?”
Matthias nodded, then related the events of that night. Every detail, from the wine, to the proprietress’s true godly nature and her grandmother’s letter.
“Minerva, huh? I always knew Nonni had some tricks up her sleeve. She was a good woman and very protective of her granddaughter.”
Very protective. So protective she helped hide the mark that proved her Pure-Blood status. Why would she go to all that trouble? Being a Pure-Blood shouldn’t be something you kept hidden
. The world needed her.
He needed to get to the bottom of this. What better time than now?
“What about Serah’s scar. When did you first notice it?”
“Last year, when we… you know.”
He’d read Serah’s file. She was born in Chicago. The pieces started to fall together in his head. Her grandmother had been protecting her. She kept Serah’s mark hidden. She kept her secret. But sometimes secrets needed to be shared.
“This makes sense now. Her grandmother used a cloaking charm to hide her powers. But the great numbers of Infernati in the shop must have activated it.”
“What are you saying?”
“The only remaining Pure-Blood was last tracked in Chicago, about twenty-five years ago. The Infernati and their minions burned her to death in her home.”
“I remember Rafe mentioning that.” Lucy’s gaze narrowed. “Where are you going with this?”
“Where was Serah born?”
Recognition filled Lucy’s face. “Chicago,” she murmured.
“When did she move here?”
Lucy gulped a deep breath. “When she was in pre-school, I think.”
“Daniel’s from Chicago too.”
“Could be a coincidence.” Lucy harrumphed. “Yeah, right. So Daniel is our most likely suspect?”
“Exactly.”
Lucy smirked. “You know, I’m not really into all this crime drama on television, but that was kind of cool.”
“So we are in agreement?”
“The agreement that says you’re done looking at furniture?”
“Yes, that one.”
“I’d say we are.” Lucy rose from her seat and extended her hand. Matthias took her hand and gave a hearty shake.
“I’ll call Rafe and tell him to recruit some more phantoms.”
“Sounds good. Should I go and get Serah?”
Lucy shook her head. “Let’s wait on that. If Daniel is working for the Infernati, we don’t want to let on that we know something.”
“Good point.” As much as he hated the idea of leaving Serah with a potential threat, it was the only thing they could do right now. The less suspicious Daniel was the better. He’d been in situations like this before. He could handle it.
“I can tell you care for her.”
Where the hell did that come from? Was it that obvious? Then again, they did walk in at a most awkward moment. He hated complications like this. “What you saw when you and Rafe came in was nothing.”
“Tell that to Serah’s and your tongues.”
“As I said earlier, it will not happen again.” Matthias sat tall, his fists balled on the desk. “I thought I heard something. I was trying to protect her. One thing lead to another.”
Lucy tilted her head, a lopsided smirk curving her lips. “That’s how it always starts.”
“A relationship with a human is inappropriate. I don’t want to risk the Fore-Demons’ displeasure.”
Lucy snickered. “You don’t want to know what I think of the Fore-Demons. As for Serah, I don’t blame you for caring for her. She has this personality that just captures you instantly.” She smiled. There was no masking the admiration Lucy had for her friend.
All camaraderie aside, he did have a mission to fulfill. Relationships, physical and emotional, only made matters worse. He couldn’t get attached more than he already had. He couldn’t have Serah’s friend putting these insane thoughts in his head.
He needed to keep his distance. And as a bodyguard that was impossible. And it didn’t help matters that Lucy sensed his obsession. Damn succubi. They were too damn smart where lust was concerned.
“The Fore-Demons do what they do for good reason. Don’t forget that.”
Lucy nodded. “Very true. As for inappropriate relationships, the Fore-Demons had no qualms about Rafe and me.”
“Unfortunately, Princess Lucia, you don’t count.”
She huffed. “Trust me, I’m a princess in name only.” She leaned over the desk, her greenish-gold eyes glittering. “And no matter how hard you try to deny it, I know you have more than just a professional interest in my friend.” Lucy drew her eyebrows together. “I also can tell you’re hiding something. I’m not one for secrets, and neither is Serah.”
“Is it a crime that I find her somewhat attractive?” Somewhat? Matthias reigned in the intense desire to snort in laughter. More like “utterly.” No… not even utterly. No amount of words could describe how beautiful she was. He drew his mouth straight and returned her glare with another stony one of his own. “And as far as I recall, it also isn’t a crime that I keep my private life to myself.”
Lucy leaned back and threw her hands up in defeat. “You’re right. It isn’t.” She blew out a long breath. “I just want to make sure my friend is safe.”
“You might not trust me, Lucy, but I swear that I will do everything in my power to protect Serah.”
“I don’t doubt that you have good intentions, Matthias.” Lucy steepled her fingers. “But I’m worried that whatever it is you’re hiding from will put Serah in danger.”
“What I have in my personal life will not affect this mission.”
Lucy cracked her knuckles, her glare intensifying. “Let’s hope it doesn’t.”
Lucy’s threat, although friendly, was very serious. He was in worse trouble than he thought.
Chapter 26
If Daniel was an Infernati minion, he did an excellent job of hiding it. Most of the minions she’d seen and dealt with since her problems started were not the best at hiding their natures. They stuck out like sore thumbs.
Yet, she still remained cautious. Cautiously optimistic, she guessed.
“Hey, where’s the alcohol?”
“Didn’t you read any of that paperwork you printed?”
A sheepish smile spread across Daniel’s lips. “I didn’t get a chance to.”
“Well, true Italian tiramisu doesn’t have any liquor or wine in it.”
“What’s the fun in that?”
“I was just seeing if you were on your toes. Most the tiramisu recipes I’ve gleaned during my training either call for Italian brandy or Marsala wine.” She traced her fingertip over the glossy surface of the liquor cabinet and opened it. “I prefer to preserve the coffee flavor, so I use this.” She reached in and pulled out a bottle of Kahlúa. Tracing her fingertips over the smooth, brown glass, she grinned. “It’s not Italian, but it tastes damn good.”
“I don’t care much for brandy anyway.”
“Good.” Serah reached for the measuring cup and cracked open the bottle.
She measured the liqueur to the bowl of sugar and espresso and passed Daniel the bowl. “Can you stir?”
“Can I?” Daniel grabbed the wooden spoon from the counter. “I think so.”
Smiling he stuck the spoon in the bowl and mixed everything together. “How long do I stir?”
“The sugar needs to dissolve.” She headed to the refrigerator and gripped the handle, the stainless steel cool against her skin. “I’ll take care of the eggs, okay?”
“Just don’t get it on your face.” Daniel flashed a toothy grin. “Sorry. Couldn’t resist.”
She pulled out four eggs and placed them in the Pyrex bowl sitting next to the fridge. Daniel couldn’t possibly be bad. Even Infernati and their minions weren’t the joking types. But still, she wouldn’t let her guard down. Not until Matthias and the others gave her the all-clear.
“Ha ha.” She removed the eggs from the bowl and pulled open a drawer. She grabbed an egg separator. She didn’t want any accidents.
“Ahh, you’re cheating.”
“Better safe than sorry. The person who invented the egg separator has my undying gratitude.”
“To each her own.” Daniel kept busy stirring the liquid mixture, still smiling that wide smile. Maybe he did stand out in a crowd. No one, not even a celebrity smiled that much, even one as attractive as Daniel Blackburn.
Either that, or maybe he was just trying to
practice that chemistry he said the show needed. Either way, she had to play along.
She shook the separator and the egg white slipped through the wire rings into the container below. “See how easy that was?” she said, with her own wide cheesy smile.
Daniel chuckled. “So Edie says you used to live in Chicago. Whereabouts?”
He couldn’t have broken the ice with a more uncomfortable question. Chicago was so long ago. She didn’t remember much as it was. Memories did come in bits and pieces sometimes. Here and there. Wrigley and Soldier fields. Shedd Aquarium. Some images and flashes when she least expected them. Mostly dreams. Sometimes nightmares. She didn’t want to talk about it.
“I was four when my grandmother and I moved to Michigan. I don’t remember much before that.” Frustration fed its way into her system. Her hands shook.
Come on, Serah, he’s just making small talk.
Yeah, right.
She cracked the egg on the side of the bowl and flung the egg into the separator. The yolk split in protest, sliding in with the whites. “Damn it.”
“Thank goodness we’re not taping yet.”
Serah flung the slimy egg off her fingers and reached for some paper towels. “Haven’t done that in a while. Luckily we’re not making meringue.” Her nerves more settled, she reached for another egg. Taking extra care, she broke and separated the egg with ease. Whew.
“And I thought we’d have a local connection. I’ll have to find another thing we have in common.”
“Sorry about that. My memories of Chicago… well there aren’t many to talk about.” She dropped the eggs into Daniel’s bowl.
“Oh. Too bad, you would’ve loved it.”
“Chicago’s only three hours away. I used to go there all the time during my shopaholic days.”
“Shopping isn’t all Chicago has to offer.”
Could have fooled her. She always felt uncomfortable in that city, despite the killer deals. Something always prickled her skin when she neared the city. Like something lingered there. Something evil. Which was too bad. It truly was a lovely town.
“To be honest, all that traffic freaks me out.” No lie there. She could barely manage the roads of River City. Stick her in an even bigger city and she was doomed. She tried it once. Never again. “A couple of years ago, I decided to go to Chicago by myself. I ended up getting in an accident on the Dan Ryan. I won’t drive there alone again.”
Demons Like It Hot Page 19